Wolvaardt royally entertains Newlands

ALL the talk before the Proteas Women’s first match of the home summer may have been about former captain Dane van Nierkerk’s return to international cricket after a four-year spell in the international wilderness, but Laura Wolvaardt reminded everyone who really is in charge now.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

Wolvaardt showed off all her class with a record-breaking 115 not out that powered her team to a best-ever 220/2, and eventual 105-run victory over a helpless Ireland team in the first T20I at Newlands yesterday.

It’s been 1014 days since Wolvaardt last graced the picturesque ground at the foot of Table Mountain when she valiantly tried to push the Proteas over the line in their first-ever T20 World Cup final.

Since then, she and the Proteas, have featured in two further World Cup finals — both of the short and longer white-ball variety.

The development, both individually and collectively, has been marked since then with Wolvaardt elevated to a higher plateau now. Born-and-bred in Cape Town, the Proteas skipper certainly enjoyed playing before her friends and family and treated everyone to a batting masterclass.

Her trademark cover drive was beautifully on song, while she also swept and pulled with authority.